Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank those Senators who took part in last night's constructive Private Members' debate on the Labour Party's motion on the regulation of charities. I commend Senators John Whelan and Lorraine Higgins who led the Labour Party group in the debate. It is positive that a consensus was reached on the need for the Charities Act 2009 to be commenced fully. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, made some helpful comments when she indicated that she wanted to work with us to try to find a way to commence it. We all appreciate that this is not a suitable time for the establishment of a costly new statutory body. There must be a cost-effective way of doing it. This is something that the charities are looking for. It was great to have the stakeholders in the Chamber.

We are all looking forward to the debate on the Bill that is being introduced in advance of the referendum on children's rights. I thank the Leader for indicating that plenty of time will be given for the debate in this House when it happens in two weeks time. In the 24 hours since the date of the referendum was announced, it has been very positive to see the broad support that has emerged in this House and generally in the media among various groups, political parties and individuals. The special rapporteur on child protection, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, said this morning that people appreciated that the referendum would not lead to an increase in the number of children going into care but would instead lead to a change in the way the courts and public authorities dealt with children. Such a more child-centred approach is to be welcomed, as are the other positive aspects of the referendum.

I commend the Leader for arranging debates in this House in the run-up to the budget. Senator Darragh O'Brien has called for one of these debates to focus on health care. Perhaps that might give us an opportunity to focus on some of the issues raised by the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, when she spoke in the Dáil last night. She spoke about the delays in the reform of primary care services and access to them. When people attack the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, they often forget that he is presiding over the most radical reform of the health service we have ever seen.